Laterally adjustable jaw type socket wrench



Jan. 22, 1957 u. JOVANOVICH LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE JAW TYPE SOCKET WRENCHFiled Nov. 22. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 {C FIG.4 rw ET; B s? 20 A I 1 A g95 l 63 INVENTOR Bogdan U. Jovunovich ATTORNEY! Jan. 22, 1957 B, u.JOVANOVICH LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE JAW TYPE socxm WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 22. 1955 INVENTOR Bogdcn U. Jovunovich ATTORNEY) UnitedStates Patent LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE JAW TYPE SOCKET WRENCH Bogdan UroshJovanovich, Rockville, Md.

Application November 22, 1955, Serial No. 548,419

8 Claims. (Cl. 81-127) This invention relates to improvements in socketwrenches having laterally adjustable jaws and keys for the adjustmentthereof.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a unitaryadjustable socket wrench that can be adjusted to fit hexagonal or squarenuts of various size.

A further object is the provision of an improved key for use with socketwrenches.

A further object is the provision of a socket wrench having laterallyadjustable jaws, wherein the adjustable jaws may be set to fit a nut ofpredetermined size and having locking means to hold the adjustable jawsat the desired setting even though great pressure is exerted upon thesocket wrench by a wrench.

A further object is the provision of a key for use with socket wrenches,having associated therewith indicating means whereby to set theadjustable jaws of the socket wrench to fit a nut of predetermined size.

A further object is the provision of a key specially designed to receivean extension on the handle thereof and having means thereon toreleasably hold the socket wrench on one end of the key so that byplacing the key in the socket and adding an extension to the handle ofthe key, the socket wrench may be positioned in places which are notnormally easily accessible, the spacing of the adjustable jaws of thewrench adjusted to fit the size of a nut, the key removed from thesocket wrench and a wrench placed in the fitting provided in the socketwrench for unscrewing the nut located in the difficult position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved socket wrench with its jawsclosed to its minimum size and with the improved key inserted therein.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof taken substantially on the line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the socket wrench with its jaws adjustedto a minimum size.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the socket wrench with its jaws opened totheir maximum size and showing by dot and dash lines a conventionalwrench socketed therein.

Figs. 5 and 6 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the jawsof the socket wrench opened to their maximum size.

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sectional views taken substantially on the line77 and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 5.

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross sectional views taken substantially on the line99 and 10-40, respectively, of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the spring used as a part of thelocking means for the adjustable jaws of the socket wrench.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the new key takensubstantiallythrough the center of the key.

Fig. 13 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertiice cal sectionshowing an easy mode of attachment of an extension to the handle of theimproved key.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 14-44of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 15-45 of Fig. 12.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Adesignates an improved socket wrench having adjustable jaws; B animproved key to be used in conjunction therewith, and C a Wrench to beused in manipulating the socket wrench.

The socket A comprises a main body portion 20, having a central socket21 therein for receiving a key or a wrench, and being centrallyapertured at its lowermost portion as at 22 for receiving locking means23 and a rack and pinion arrangement 24 which supports adjustable jaws25 and 26.

The central socket 21 is preferably of a polygonal shape to facilitatethe turning of the socket wrench. A slot 22 extending downwardly througha portion of one side of the socket 21 is provided for centering of thekey, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

The lower central aperture 22 is preferably beveled inwardly at itsuppermost portion at 27 and opens into the socket 21. At the inwardlybeveled portion 27 are provided teeth 30 which cooperate with thelocking means 23. In the drawings I have shown the locking means asbeing provided with thirty-six teeth which I have found to be asatisfactory number.

7 The locking means 23 preferably comprises a beveled gear 32 and aspring 40. The beveled gear 32 is preferably provided with annular teeth31 which mesh with the teeth 30. The gear 32 is also provided with anupper central indentation 35, the purpose of which will be subsequentlydescribed. Projecting centrally through the gear 32 is a shaft 36 theupper portion of which is of polygonal cross section, such as square andthe lower portion of which is cylindrical as at 37. The upper portion ofone of the pointed sides of the polygonal shaped sections is flattenedas at 38 and extends above the uppermost surface of the gear 32 for apurpose to be subsequently described.

Abutting the gear 32 is a spring 40 which is made of some materialhaving a great degree of elasticity such as spring steel. The spring 40is preferably made so that it is originally of somewhat elliptical shapeand is flattened under compression as will be subsequently described. Atopposite sides of the spring 40 are squared openings 42 and 43 whichallow the spring to be placed upon the squared shaft 36 immediatelybeneath the gear 32.

Disposed below the spring 40 on the shaft 36 is a pinion 56 which mesheswith racks 51 and 52 which are attached to adjustable jaws 25 and 26respectively.

A plate 55 is attached to the main body portion 20 as by screws 56 and57. The plate 55 has a central socket 58 for receiving the cylindricalend 37 of the shaft 36. The sides of the plate 55 are tapered inwardlyas at 60 and 61 and support the racks 51 and 52 in channels 62 and 63which are cut in the main body portion 20. The pinion 50 is mounted uponthe polygonal portion of the shaft 36 and has teeth 78 which engage theteeth 71 and 72 of the racks 51 and 52 to impart movement thereto uponrotation of the shaft 36 as will be subsequently described.

The adjustable jaws 25 and 26 are attached to or integral with anddepend downwardly from the racks 51 and 52. The outer peripheries of theadjustable jaws 25 and 26 are of a substantially truncated conical shapeas at 75 and 76. The inner surfaces of the adjustable jaws 25 and 26 areangularly cut as at- 7'7 and 78 and have one side thereof beveled as atand 80 respectively in order to allow the jaws to be adjusted to arelatively small size.

When the socket wrench is assembled the racks 51 and 52 are insertedinto channels 62 and '63 of the main body portion 20. 'The pinion '50,the spring 40 and the gear 32 are then placed on the polygonal portionof the shaft 86 and the same is inserted into the lower central aperture22 of the main body portion 20 so that the teeth 31 of the gear 32enmesh with the teeth 30 of the body 20 and with the teeth 70 of thepinion 50 meshing with the teeth 71 and 72 of the racks 51 and 52. Thelower plate 55 is then fitted onto the cylindrical portion 37 of theshaft 36 and attached to the main body portion 20 as by the screws 56and 57. The lower cylindrical por- 'tion 37 of the shaft 36 will then beresting in the socket 58 in the lower plate 55 and the spring 40 will bedisposed between the pinion 50 and the gear 32 forcing the teeth 31 ofthe gear 32 into engagement with the teeth 30 of the main body portion26 thus rendering the rack and pinion assemblage immobile.

The key B is composed of a main frame 92 of the same size and shape asthe socket 21 of the main body portion 20 of the socket wrench. Theframe 92 has at one side thereof a lug or projecting portion 81 of thesame shape and size as the slot 21' of the main body portion 20. At oneof the sides of the frame 92 is socketed as at 83 a ball 82. The ball 82is urged outwardly by a spring 84 attached to the side of the frame 92.

' A plate 85 is provided on the top 'of the frame portion 92 andextending beyond the edges thereof. The top plate 85 is centrallydrilled as at 86 to rotatably receive a central shaft 87. I have shownthe central shaft 37 as consisting of an upper portion 88 and a lowerportion 89, although it will be obvious that a one piece shaft would beequally applicable. The lower portion 89 of the central shaft 87 issocketed into the upper portion 88 as at 90 and is secured therein by apin 91. The lower shaft portion 89 is enlarged at its lowermost end andforms a socket 93 which is of the same size and shape as the upperportion of the central shaft 36 of the socket wrench. The socket 93 hasone portion thereof flattened as Elf 94; which is identical to theflattened side 38 of the central shaft 36 of the socket wrench.

The upper portion 88 of the central shaft 87 has an indicating'member 95attached thereto as by a set screw 96. This indicating member 95 has apointer 97 thereon which cooperates with indicia 98 engraved orotherwise applied on the upper surface of the plate member 85. In Fig. 2I have shown the indicia 98 as consisting merely of long and shortlines, whereas in actual practice instead of the long and short linesfractions such as A", /8", 9 and 1'', will be disposed thereabout whichwill indicate the size of the nut or bolt heads which the jaws of thesocket wrench are set to fit.

A transverse hole 100 is drilled through the upper portion 88 of thecentral shaft 87 through which a handle ;01 may be inserted for theturning of the rotatable shaft In Fig. 13 I have shown an extensionmember 105 attached to the upper shaft portion 88. The extension member105 has a socket 109 at one end thereof which receives the upper end ofthe shaft portion 88. A pin 110 is then placed through the extensionmember 105 and through the drilled hole 100 after the handle 101 hasbeen removed therefrom. The handle 101 is inserted into a drilledopening 111 at the upper portion of the extension member 105.

The A and the key B cooperatively act together as follows.

The frame member 92 of the key B is inserted into the socket 21 in themain body portion 20 of the socket wrench A and the lug or projection 81is aligned with the slot 21' thus enabling a full insertion of the, keyinto the socket 21. The ball member 82 will be forced against one sideof the socket 21 and will act to hold the key in the socket. The centralshaft 87 is turned until the flattened side 94 of the socket 93 alignswith the flattened side 38 of the shaft 36 and the shaft 36 then fitsinto the socket 93. When these two flattened sides 38 and 94 abut oneanother the indicating member 95 will have its pointer 97 pointing tothe indicia 98 which will mark the size of nut that the adjustable jaws25 and 26 will fit. Pressure is then exerted upon the central shaft 87forcing the socket 93 into the depression 35 and into contact with thegear 32. The teeth 31 of the gear 32 are pressed out of engagement withthe teeth 30 of the main body portion 20 compressing the spring 40. Thecentral shaft 37 is then rotated transmitting motion to the shaft 36 andthen to the pinion 50. The teeth 70 of the pinion '50 coact with theteeth 71 and at 72 of the racks 51 and 52 respectively thereby openingor closing the adjustable jaws, depending upon the direction ofrotation, to the desired size as indicated by the indicating means 95.The racks 51 and 52 have flattened por tions 71' and 72' at one endthereof and flattened poi tions 71" and 72" at the other end thereofwhich act as stops for the pinion 50 thus, preventing the rotation ofthe pinion to such an extent that the racks 51 and 52 will becomedisengaged from the pinion 50.

When the correct or desired setting of the adjustable jaws 25 and 26have been reached the pressure on the central shaft 87 is released andthe spring member 40 will force the gear 32 upwardly so that the teeth31 thereof enmesh with the teeth 35 of the main body portion 20 thusrigidly securing the adjustable jaws in their set position. The keymember is then removed from the socket 21 and a wrench C as shown inFigure 4 is inserted therein and the socket wrench manipulated.

Various changes may be made in the form of the invention herein shownand described without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a socket wrench having a main body portion,adjustable jaws supported by said main body portion, means for initialrelative spacing of the said adjustable jaws, means for securely lockingsaid adjustable jaws in a fixed position with respect to said main bodyportion subsequent to the initial relative spacing thereof, meanswhereby the said socket wrench may be manipulated, and a key, said keyhaving a frame susceptible of fitted engagement with the main bodyportion of said socket wrench, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,means for the cooperating engagement of said shaft with the means forinitial relative spacing of the adjustable jaws, means for engaging anddisengaging the locking means of said adjustable jaw, and indicatingmeans whereby the relative spacing of the adjustable jaws may be set.

2. The combination of a socket wrench comprising a main body portion,adjustable jaws supported by said main body portion, racks carried bysaid adjustable jaws, a shaft supported pinion mounted in said main bodyportion meshing with said racks for initial relative spacing of saidadjustable jaws, a spring loaded toothed locking clutch member mountedupon said shaft, teeth in the main body portion which intermesh with theteeth of the locking clutch securely locking the adjustable jaws in afixed position with respect to the said main body portion subsequent tothe initial relative spacing thereof, and means whereby the said socketwrench may be manipulated, and a key, said key having a framesusceptible of fitted engagement with the main body portion of saidsocket wrench, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, indicating meansmounted upon said shaft cooperating with indicia upon said frame, saidshaft having at its lowermost end a socket for interfitting engagementwith the shaft of the socket wrench whereby to rotate said lastmentioned shaft, the outer periphery of said socket being so shaped asto provide means whereby when pressure is exerted upon the shaft of thekey the spring loaded locking clutch is released and the adjustable jawsmay be relatively moved with respect to each other to a predeterminedsetting which will be indicated by the said indicating means.

3. A socket wrench comprising a main body portion, adjustable jawssupported by said main body portion, racks rigid With said adjustablejaws, a shaft supported pinion mounted in said main body portion meshingwith said racks for initial relative spacing of said adjustable jaws, aspring loaded toothed locking clutch mounted upon said shaft, teethcarried by the main body portion which intermesh with the teeth of thelocking clutch securely locking the adjustable jaws in a fixed positionwith respect to the said main body portion subsequent to the initialrelative spacing thereof, and means whereby the said socket wrench maybe manipulated.

4. A key for use with a socket wrench having a main body portion,adjustable jaws supported by said main body portion, means for initialrelative spacing of the said adjustable jaws, means for securely lockingsaid adjustable jaws in a fixed position with respect to said main bodyportion subsequent to the initial relative spacing thereof, meanswhereby the said socket wrench may be manipulated, said key comprising aframe, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, means for detachablyconnecting said frame with the said main body portion of the socketwrench, means for the cooperating engagement of said shaft with the saidfirst mentioned means for initial relative spacing of the saidadjustable jaws, and indicating means whereby the relative spacing ofthe adjustable jaws may be preset.

5. A key as specified in claim 4 wherein said frame iuterfits into themain body portion of the socket wrench.

6. A key as specified in claim 4 wherein the lowermost portion of therotatably mounted shaft of the key cooperates with the means for theinitial spacing of the adjustable jaws and said indicating means ismounted on said shaft whereby the relative spacing of the adjustablejaws may be determined.

7. A socket wrench comprising a main body portion, adjustable jawssupported by said main body portion, means for the initial relativespacing of the said adjustable jaws, and a spring loaded toothed lockingclutch the teeth of which intermesh with teeth carried by said main bodyportion for securely locking said adjustable jaws in a fixed positionwith respect to said main body portion subsequent to the initialrelative spacing thereof.

8. A socket wrench comprising a main body portion, adjustable jawssupported by said main body portion, said adjustable jaws comprising twomating elements the outer peripheries of which are of a substantiallytruncated conical form, the inner surfaces of which are angularly cutand one side of each is beveled whereby to be adaptable to fit nuts ofvarying sizes, means for the initial relative spacing of the saidadjustable jaws, and means for securely locking said adjustable jaws ina fixed position with respect to said main body portion subsequent tothe initial relative spacing thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS783,468 Sasko Feb. 28, 1905 1,074,594 Andersen Oct. 7, 1913 1,216,224Furgerson et al. Feb. 13, 1917 1,354,552 Hart Oct. 5, 1920 1,471,837Dies Oct. 23, 1923 1,523,808 Kropacz Jan. 20, 1925 2,478,471 Edlund Aug.9, 1949

